Fastener driving implements



fi- 1 E. F. GAINES 2,765,466

FASTENER DRIVING IMPLEMENTS Filed July 2, 1952 I 4. m mi A 770 F/VE Y5.

FASTENER DRIVING IMPLEMENTS Eugene F. Gaines, Joplin, Mo.

Application July 2, 1952, Serial No. 296,920

8 Claims. (Cl. 1-49) This invention relates generally to fastener driving implements, and particularly to such implements wherein the fastener, which may be a staple or nail, is projected outwardly through an ejecting throat located in close proximity to one end of the implement. The invention has particular reference to the provision of such implement whereby the fastener may be driven through one member into another member in spaced relationship with the first member.

Fastener driving implements of a character adapted to contain a plurality of fasteners which are individually ejected through a throat under force sufiicient to penetrate a member located at the outside of the throat are well-known in the art and adapted to handle fasteners of the straight nail type as well as fasteners of the staple type. Typical among the latter group is the fastener applying implement disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,137,642, granted November 22, 193 8, to Cavanagh. Implements of the character typified by the Cavanagh patent are provided with a base intended to rest upon the member into which an ejected fastener is intended to pentrate.

In the hanging of ceiling tile as disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 296,919, filed of even date herewith, there is disclosed a method of hanging tile which necessitates the driving of a nail (which may be either a straight nail or a staple) through a nailable member in spaced relationship with another member into which the nail penetrates. Implements of the character typified by the aforesaid Cavanagh Patent are not satisfactory for this purpose. The base of such implements must be brought to rest upon the first-mentioned member through which the fastener passes, but such a member is not sufiiciently rigid or well-supported to sustain the driving force of the fastener. Consequently, the use of such implements in connection with the method of my aforesaid application tends to reduce the space between the parts being fastened and thus disalign and otherwise damage them.

The object of the present invention generally stated is to modify fastener applying implements of the character aforesaid so as to render them suitable for the fastening of two members in spaced relationship.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a fastener driving implement of the character aforesaid suitable for use in connection with the application of tile in accordance with the method disclosed in my aforesaid application.

In accordance with the present invention, a fastener applying implement of the character typified by the aforesaid patent to Cavanagh is provided with a spacing block, dimensioned for close fit between the two members being fastened in spaced relationship. Such a spacing block may be an integral part of, or secured to the base of implements of known construction, and is provided with a lip projecting in spaced relationship with said base at the region thereof adjacent the mouth of the throat through which fasteners are ejected from such implement. The magnitude of the space between the lip and the normal rates atent 'ice base of the implement is determined by the thickness of the suspended member, through which the fastener must pass en route to penetration in another member. Preferably, the free end of the lip is conformed and located so as to provide ways for guiding the fastener while in flight between the suspended member and the member which is penetrated.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is illustrated in combination with the fastener applying implement of the aforesaid Cavanagh patent, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to combination with implements of that precise construction.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener applying implement constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the front end of the implement shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the implement shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view corresponding to Fig. 2, but showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a modification wherein the fastener is ejected from the implement in an oblique direction relative to the members being fastened;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken along line 66 of Fig. 4 and showing the position of parts immediately after ejection of a staple;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to that of Fig. 6 showing an.

alternative embodiment wherein the legs of the staple are caused to spread as they are embedded;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 showing an alternative form wherein the legs of a staple are caused to diverge as they are embedded;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 showing a different form by means of which the legs are caused to diverge as they are embedded; and

Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation of the machine of Fig. 5, illustrating the manner in which it is used to toenail a staple into a corner between two members.

In the application of ceiling tile in accordance with my aforesaid co-pending application, it is desirable that.

the fastener be driven as closely as possible within the corner defined by two right-angularly extending surfaces. Consequently, for this purpose it is desirable that the. fastener-ejecting throat of the implement be located as nearly to one end thereof, herein called the front end, as is possible within practical limitations. The implement disclosed in the aforesaid Cavanagh patent is provided with a fastener-ejecting throat located in immediate adjacence to the front end thereof and, in fact, separated from the outer extremities of the front end only by a relatively thin plate. Accordingly, such an implement when modified in accordance with the present invention is well adapted for use in accordance with my aforesaid. method for hanging tile.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, a fastener-applying implement 1 corresponding to that. disclosed in the aforesaid Cavanagh patent is provided with a staple-ejecting throat 2 defined at the front by the inside of a plate 3. Into the throat 2, staples 4 are fed, one at a time, from a supply thereof contained within a suitable magazine located above base 5. In the embodiment shown, a sub-base 6 is suitably secured to base 5, so as to be a permanent component of the device. The sub-base 6 is preferably of metal, and is provided at its front end with a lip 7 projecting in spaced relationship with base 5, at the front end of the latter, so as to define therebetween a gap 8. Where the device is intended for use in the hanging of tile in accordance with my aforesaid application, the gap 8 is dimensioned to correspond in the vertical direction with the thickness of a spline the base to at least half the width of a spline member.

Thus a spline may be received within gap 8 and plate 3 brought to rest against the shoulder located approximately at the center line of the spline.

The lip 7 as shown terminates in alignment with plate 3, which defines throat 2 on the front end of the implement. The lip 7 is provided with a pair of slots 9 which clear a path through the lip for the passage of the prongs of the staple 4 during ejection of the latter from throat 2. Between slots 9, the lip 7 is provided with a projection 11 in the ejection path of the bridge of staples 4 so as to limit travel of the ejected staple when the bridge comes into engagement with projection 11 or a member supported thereby.

In the form shown in Fig. 4, the lip 7 is cut away exteriorly of slots 9 so as to leave projection 11 extending as a sole salient from the body of lip 7. In either the form shown in Fig. 2 or the form shown in Fig. 4, the projection 11 has walls or edges which extend rearwardly and which are preferably positioned, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, to be in alignment with the inside increments of a staple in flight from throat 2 and thus guide the staple in flight.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. and 10, the subbase 6 of the previous embodiment is replaced by a spacing block 16, having a lip 17 and a gap 18 proportioned as above described with reference to the gap 8. In this embodiment, however, the upper and lower flat surfaces of lip 17 extend in a plane which is oblique to base 5 so that staples ejected from throat 2 may be toe-nailed into a corner between two members A and B, one located parallel to gap 18 and the other located at right angles thereto. The staple may secure a third member C received in the gap 18.

In the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 10, the spacing block 16 is provided with a second lip 19 which overhangs gap 18 and terminates at the front in alignment with the rearward wall of throat 2. In this embodiment, the front plate 13 (corresponding to plate 3 in the previous embodiment) is extended downwardly below base 5 and preferably tapered on the outside at its lower end in a plane coincident with, or at least closely parallel to the plane defined by the front end of lip 17. The front end of lip 19, on the other hand, extends in a direction oblique with the direction in which staples are ejected from the implement.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, it is unnecessary to provide ways at the front of lip 17 for guiding the staples in flight as it is contemplated that with this arrangement little, if any of the staples will pass through open space below a member sustained in gap 18.

From the foregoing description, and the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art should readily understand the construction and operation of the invention, and realize that it accomplishes its objectives. A suspended member, through which the staples are required to pass en route to another member into which the penetrating parts or prongs of the staples are to be embedded, is received within the gap 8 and sustained against movement out of proper relationship with the member into which the staples are ultimately embedded, which latter member the lower flat surface of lip 7 rests upon, it being understood that the thickness of lip 7 is determined in accordance with the spaced relationship desired between the suspended member and the member into which the staples penetrate.

Accordingly, where the dimensions of the member accommodated by the gap 8 change, or where the spaced relationship between that suspended member and the member into which the staples penetrate varies, it is desirable to replace the sub-base 6 (or the block 16) with one having a lip and gap proportioned to accommodate the particular parts being fastened in the particular relationship desired for them.

While in Figure 6 of the drawings, the projection 11 is shown to be of rectangular cross section, and while such shape 'is usually desirable where the fasteners are being driven into wood (except very soft wood), it is sometimes desirable, as in the case of nailing into gypsum board, fiber board, or plaster to deflect the course of the legs of the staple to effect clinching within the body of such low-density, porous, or semi-porous materials. In the latter cases, it is desirable to flare the sides of projection 11 which guide the legs of the staple while being driven. In Figure 7 of the drawings, the projection 71 (corresponding to projection 11) has rounded sides. In Figure 8 of the drawings, the projection 81 (corresponding to projection 11) has cross sectional shape of a truncated isosceles triangle so that the sides thereof flare out from top to bottom. In Figure 9 of the drawings, the projection 91 has out-flaring lips at its lower edge so that the legs of the staple are not flared outwardly until the staple has approached relatively close to the nailable member. Either of the arrangements shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9, however, is effective to spread the legs of the staple outwardly and cause them to penetrate the nailable member in an outwardly curving direction which clinches the staple and improves the security of its anchorage.

More specifically, there is shown a lower portion 101 of a staple-driving member in its advanced position, which member is guided between side walls 103 of the stapling machine. An element D is accommodated within the gap 8 and is supported upon an upper surface 105 of the respective projections 11, 71, 81 and 91. When a staple is driven through the element D, the legs 107 thereof are guided by the rearwardly extending walls 109 of the projection 11 as the legs leave the element D and approach element E. The stapling machine may then be withdrawn leaving element D supported by the staple in spaced relationship from the element E. In Fig. 6, the legs 107 of the staple are guided parallel into the material E, whereas in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the legs 111, 113 and 115, respectively, are deflected out of parallelism by the projections 71, 81 and 91, respectively.

While several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in detail, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited to those embodiments or to the particular stapling gun shown in the drawings. On the contrary, it is realized that many modifications and variations of the invention will present themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is to be distinctly understood, therefore, that such modifications and variations, although not specifically described herein, are contemplated by and within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an implement for driving fasteners having a penetrating part, said implement having a fastener-ejecting throat adjacent the front end thereof, of a spacing block secured to said implement and having a lip projecting in spaced relationship beneath the mouth of said throat, said lip having an end wall disposed forwardly of the throat and rearwardly extending walls positioned to deflect the penetrating part of a fastener ejected from said throat after the fastener crosses the gap between the throat and lip.

2. The combination with an implement for driving fasteners having a bridge part connecting two penetrating parts, said implement having a fastener-ejecting throat adjacent the front end thereof, and a spacing block secured to said implement, said block having a lip projecting in spaced relationship with the mouth of said throat, said lip having an end disposed forwardly of said throat and rearwardly extending walls disposed in part in the path of the penetrating parts of a fastener ejected from said throat, thereby to deflect these parts out of parallelism.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said lip has u f S in the path of the penetrating parts of a fastener ejected from said throat, and said surfaces flare outwardly in the direction of travel of a fastener ejected from said throat.

4. The combination of claim 2 wherein the width of said lip at the surface thereof adjacent the mouth of said throat is no greater than the distance between the penetrating parts of fasteners ejected from said throat and wherein the width of said lip remote from the mouth of said throat is greater than the distance between the penetrating parts of fasteners ejected from said throat.

5. In a portable stapling machine having a staple-guiding member at its front defining the front of a throat through which U-shaped staples are ejected; the improvement comprising a fixed ledge cantilevered forwardly below said throat, said ledge having an upper surface extending across said throat in spaced relationship from said staple-guiding member, said ledge having walls extending rearwardly from the front edge of the ledge adjacent the path of the legs of an ejected staple, said rearwardly extending walls being disposed to intersect the path of and deflect the legs of an ejected staple out of parallelism.

6. A device for use in attaching spline strips including a fastener inserting implement having a throat, a spacer member on the bottom part of the implement having a part spaced from the bottom of the implement for supporting a spline strip, said part extending rearwardly beyond the throat of the implement and including a plurality of walls extending in part into the path of a fastener ejected from said implement, said walls being flared to deflect the penetrating ends of a fastener inserted by the implement after they have been driven through the spline strip.

7. A device for concurrently supporting a spline in spaced relationship from, and driving staples through the spline into a supporting structure, comprising, a stapling machine including a body out of which staples are ejected downward through a mouth at its lower front corner, a spline support attached to the lower part of said body and having a forward portion projecting beneath said mouth from a position rearward of said mouth forwardly across said mouth, said projecting portion being spaced downwardly from the top of said support and the plane of said mouth to provide a gap of a size at least equal to the thickness of the spline which is to be accommodated rearwardly of said mouth, the projecting portion of said spline support which extends across said mouth being located in the line of the travel path of the bridge of a staple being driven to act as an anvil for absorbing the force of the staple, but said portion providing space at the sides thereof to pass the legs of the staple being driven.

8. A device for concurrently supporting a spline in spaced relationship from, and driving staples through the spline into a supporting structure, comprising, a stapling machine including a body out of which staples are ejected downward through a mouth at its lower front corner, a spline support attached to the lower part of said body and projecting in spaced relation with and beneath said body from a rearward position substantially rearward of said mouth across said mouth to a forward terminus located in front of said mouth, the distance between said mouth and said rearward position being greater than the space between said spline support and said body, said spline support being spaced downwardly from the plane of said mouth to provide a gap between the spline support and the lower part of said body, said gap being of a width at least equal to the thickness of the spline which is to be driven and of a depth suflicient to accommodate a substantial part of the width of such spline that portion of said spline support which extends across said mouth being located in the line of the travel path of the bridge of a staple being driven to act as an anvil for absorbing some of the force of the staple being driven, said portion providing space at the sides thereof to pass the legs of the staple being driven.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,945,377 Posnack Jan. 30, 1934 1,958,739 Bliss May 15, 1934 2,150,127 Passek Mar. 7, 1939 2,392,327 Lang Jan. 8, 1946 2,427,028 Spencer Sept. 9, 1947 

